Tracy Idell Hamilton: Clinton supporters swarm St. Mary’s

The crowd filing into to Greehey Arena is buzzing, elecdtrified, waiting for Hillary Clinton. Hundreds have been waiting outside the building, some since noon. At 4 p.m. the line of people stretched around to the back of the building, no shade in sight.

It’s now 5:30, and the arena is not even half full as crowds wait behind a pair of metal detectors to be screened. A huge banner, “Solutions for America” hangs behind the stage where Clinton will be speaking. The seats around the banner have been filled, mostly with young Hispanics, likely students at St. Mary’s.

Campaign volunteers are passing out “Hillary for President” signs. The national media is lined up along one side of the arena, with some already doing live shots.

The piped-in rock music just stopped, replaced by a live band of St. Mary’s students.

Many of those here today are true believers, Clinton supporters from the beginning, and they are thrilled to get the chance to hear their candidate in person. The crowd is skewing slightly female, and slightly young, given all the students, but there are supporters from all demographics, older women, Hispanics, African Americans, blue collar and white.

Stella Pope, 69, got tears in her eyes talking about another Clinton in the White House. “I believe she is the one to make our country great again,” she said.

Pope said she has been listening carefully to Clinton’s policy positions, and that they are superior to “the rhetoric” of the Barack Obama campaign.

Pope echoed many Clinton supporters in that regard, citing her experience in everything from foreign policy to children’s issues as the reason they will vote for her on March 4.